Fluid dispenser



Nov. 14, 1967 R. M. BERLER 3,352,463

FLUID DISPENSER Filed Oct. 20, 1965 INVENTOR.

ROBERT M. BERLER ATTORNEY.

United States Patent Ofilice 3,352,453 Patented Nov. 14, 1987 3,352,463 FLUID DISPENSER Robert M. Berler, 3 Bruce Lane, Westport, Conn. 06830 Filed Oct. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 498,615 Claims. (Cl. 222-321) This invention relates to an improved pump for thermally insulated jugs. While various attempts have been made to provide insulated jugs with pump mechanisms which permit liquid held in the jug to be dispensed so that lifting and tipping of the jug to dispense the liquid therein can be avoided, none of the pump apparatus known or available has been found to be feasible. The difiiculties present arise from a variety of reasons, e.g., cost, complexity, eifectiveness, etc.

In general, therefore, it is still necessary when dispensing liquid from jugs of this kind, particular reference being made to picnic jugs holding two to eight quarts or more, that the jug to be either tipped to dispense the liquid contained from the top or that a bottom valve be opened to permit the liquid to flow. In either case, it is a cumbersome task to dispense liquid from such containers. This is especially true, when, as is usually the case, these jugs are used with paper cups which capsize easily unless they are held and holding the cup is diflicult because two hands are required to handle the jug itself. In the case of the bottom valve type dispensing container, the jug must be sufficiently elevated to allow space to position the cup underneath the bottom positioned valve to receive the dispensed liquid.

Pump mechanisms proposed for insulated beverage containers in the past have suifered from one or more serious drawbacks which have discouraged their use, e.g., corrosiveness of parts, difi'icult to maintain sanitary, complex construction, small increment dispensing making use bothersome because it takes an unduly long time to fill a cup, and the like. Also, a most difiicult obstacle in the use of valves or pumps for beverage containers heretofore has been the inadequacy of such devices to handle beverages containing pulp or solids content. Solids present a problem not only in connection with the operation, i.e., clogging of the pump, but also because of the problem of cleaning the pump after use.

The pump of the present invention provides a mechanism which is low cost, of remarkably simple nonclogging construction, non-corrosive and is readily disassembled and assembled without tools.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a pump of simplified inexpensive construction which is operable to pump liquid from the top of a container without requiring that the container be lifted.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pump which is readily assembled and disassembled without tools and which may be fabricated entirely from non-metallic components.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a pump which delivers relatively large increments of liquid per stroke and requires no priming.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a pump which does not require a pressure tight system to dispense, i.e., the pump effectively dispenses liquid even though air is freely accessible into the container and pump.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pump having an unusually light stroke, wherein the actuating portion bears only on two points.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a pump which contains no flaps or hinged devices and which dispenses pulp-containing liquid without difiiculty.

A further object of the invention resides in the unitary construction of the piston rod, the actuating handle, and the dispensing spou Another object resides in the feature which eliminates without drippage all liquid from the spout after dispensing has ceased.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a pump which is readily adaptable for use with existing containers.

It is another object of the invention to provide a pump which is adjustable to accommodate containers which may vary in depth.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the specification progresses in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a container fitted with the pump of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the pump shown in relationship to the schematically illustrated conventional jug screw closure cap.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the pump positioned on a jug screw closure cap.

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 2, showing the assembly of the telescoping cylindrical parts with the retaining clip.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional View taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the piston expanding washer.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternate valve stop arrangement.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the pump assembly 11 of the invention comprises an outer tube 12, and an inner tube 13 held together by a spring retaining clip 14. All components of the pump, including those described hereinafter in greater detail are preferably formed of synthetic resinous composition.

At the lower end of the inner tube 13 is located the lower valve 16 overlying an opening 25 through which liquid enters into tube 13 from the surrounding container 16. Within the inner tube 13 is located a plunger assembly 17 which consists of the spout tube 18, plunger housing 19, plunger disc valve 26* and expanding washer 21.

The pump assembly 17 is mounted firmly onto a conventional jug screw-on cap 22.

The lower end of the spout tube 18 is attached to the top of plunger housing 19 and forms a passage into housing 19. The upper part of the spout tube 18 is advantageously provided with a suitable bend. The spout so bent allows the spout itself to be used as a pump handle. Also the bend is so contoured and formed that the liquid can be carried over beyond the side of the top of the jug where it can be dispensed into a suitable receptacle, e.g., a cup or glass. Additionally, the curve of spout 18 is designed so that it closely follows the upper outline of the jug and the handle 35 and is free to swing, without interference from spout 13, over the spout when the jug is being carried.

The tip 18a of the spout tube 18 is undercut in such a way that when the pumping of a desired quantity of the liquid is completed, none of the liquid will be retained in the end of the tube, i.e., any drops having a tendency to collect at the extremity 18a will drop into the cup or glass. This configuration in conjunction with the bend of tube 18 which comprises a peak at 13b assures complete evacuation of liquid from that part of tube 18 which is outside the insulated part of the jug.

The plunger 19 is designed so to fit loosely inside the inner tube 13. At the lower portion of the plunger 19, a plastic expanding C washer 21 is located which fits in a groove or suitable recess 19a formed in the lower part of plunger 19. The expanding washer 21 expands outwardly so that it is in contact with the inner surface of tube 13. This C washer 21 and the vertical part of tube 18 against the surface of the opening in cap 22 comprise 3 the sole bearing surfaces during the reciprocation of plunger 17. Washer 21 prevents any substantial liquid from flowing around the plunger 19 during the pump plunger stroke.

Inside the lower part of the plunger 19 there is provided a plunger disc valve 20. Valve 20, which is a fiat disc, is free to move up and down, and, to some extent, sideways. However, it cannot uncover hole 24 when moved sideways to any position because of its relatively large diameter and the relatively small diameter of hole 24. The diameter of valve disc 29, however, is small enough so that liquid may flow around its periphery. The disc valve 20 is prevented from standing on end or from becoming cocked at an angle because of the limited spacing between the top and bottom sides of the plunger 19, which prevents such displacement.

Fixed to the inside surface of the top of plunger housing 19 are three valve stops 28. These are small projections which prevent disc 21 from abutting against the opening into spout 18, allowing the liquid to freely flow between them into the passage when the plunger disc valve 29 is forced upwards by liquid during the down stroke of the plunger 17 A drain hole 23 is provided in the cylindrical wall of plunger 19.

The purpose of the drain hole 23 is to allow all liquid remaining in the spout tube 18 after pumping is completed, to drain back into the jug. Because of the relatively small size of the hole 23, very little liquid is lost through it while pumping and does not adversely alfect the efliciency of the pumping.

The lower portion of the imaer tube 13 contains the lower valve 16. This valve is suitably retained in operable position by valve stop 26 and by the bottom plate 27. Valve 16 acts as a check valve for the pump. During the pumping action, the valve 16, as a consequence of liquid pressure against it, will rise. Its upward movement is halted by engaging spaced valve stops or projections 26. Because of the spaced relationship liquid readily flows around the valve 16. Valve 16 may optionally be formed to have a scalloped configuration (see FIG. 6). Space 31 is filled with liquid during the up stroke of the plunger 17. During the down stroke of the plunger 17, the lower valve 16 will cover hole 25 in bottom plate 27, thereby preventing the escape of liquid. Plate 27 is suitably spaced from the bottom and provided with cut outs at the bottom of tube 13 between extensions 32 to prevent interference to the flow of liquid.

An alternate to the lower valve 16 and valve stop 26 shown in FIG. and FIG. 6 is that of FIG. 8. Valve stop 36 with valve stops 37 is substituted for the valve 20 and stops 28 shown in FIG. 5. Element 36 with lugs 37 is similar to the arrangement 19 and 28 of FIG. 5. The scalloped disc 16 of FIG. 6 may be substituted by a flat disc similar to 20 of FIG. 5. The action of the pump will be essentially the same.

Bottom spacer legs 32 allow the pump assembly 11 to rest on the bottom of the jug without interfering with the free flow of liquid into aperture 25. A leg clearance of about A; inch will allow the pumping of liquid down to within inch of the bottom, while still allowing free flow of the liquid into the bottom of the cylinder 13 and preventing pieces of fruit pulp or ice from clogging the bottom hole 25, valve 16 and stops 26.

Referring to the assembly of the pump, a group of pairs of holes 30, arranged in a vertical or vertically displaced spiral fashion, enable the inner tube 13 to be fastened to the outer tube 12 in various overall heights, so that the pump assembly 11 is adjustable and can accommodate jug containers of various depths. The inner and outer tubes are held together by inserting the pegs 14a of retaining clip 14 into the holes 36 after these holes are lined up for properly selected pump assembly depth. Pins 14a of clip 14 are arranged to extend into cylinder 13 to limit the stroke of plunger 17. In thus limiting movement of the plunger 17, it prevents the C washer 21 from passing beyond the top of cylinder 13 where it would tend to 3am. The space formed between extensions 33 on tube 12 and 34 on tube 13 permits free exit into container 10 of liquid that may accumulate within the tubes above plunger 17.

The pump of the invention is operated by grasping the spout tube 18 at the upper bent portion which serves as the handle. The spout tube 18 is stroked to its upper limit to dispense a full increment and then depressed. During this time, a receiving container is held below the end of the spout tube so it can accept liquid during the down stroke. When the cup is filled and the pump is left in this down position, all remaining liquid in the spout tube will siphon back into the jug. There will be no drops of fluid leaking from the end of the spout.

As the tube 18 is drawn upward the plunger disc valve 20 moves down and closes the hole 24 at the bottom of the plunger. As the plunger 17 is moving upwards it creates a vacuum at 31 and draws the liquid in through the hole 25 at the bottom plate 27. At the top of the stroke, space 31 in the inner tube 13 is filled with liquid. During the down stroke, pressure of plunger 17 on the liquid causes lower valve 16 to be forced down on the bottom plate 27, closing opening 25 and preventing escape of liquid therethrough. The confined liquid in space 31 can 7 escape therefrom ordy by entering hole 24 at the bottom of plunger 19. Liquid entering into plunger 17 will lift the plunger disc valve 20, forcing it upward against the valve stops 29 at least three of which are preferably used. The liquid entering the housing of plunger 17 will flow around the edge of the plunger disc valve 20 and between the valve stops 29, and into spout tube 18, where it will be discharged with considerable pressure out of the tip 18a of the spout into the receptacle. This action is repeated with each stroke of the spout tube 18.

Liquid which may accumulate above the plunger 19 as the spout tube is drawn up is allowed to overflow out of the liquid overflow spaces 29 between the top of outer tube 12 and the jug screw-on cap.

When the pumping action is completed, the spout tube 18 is left in its down position where it does not interfere with the swinging movement and carrying function of handle 35. Any liquid remaining in the spout tube 18 between the peak at 18b and the plunger will siphon back down into the housing of plunger 17 and out of the drain hole 23; liquid will be completely evacuated into the receiving container without accumulation because of the undercut at 18a, which prevents capillary adherence.

It is seen from the foregoing that the invention provides a simple yet highly effective and advantageous pump which requires no springs, flapper valves, etc., and which is highly effective without requiring a pressure tight system or the need to prime inorder to dispense liquid. The adjustable length of the pump cylinder, moreover, provides the means to effect practically substantial evacuation of all the liquid in the container.

An especially attractive feature resides in the case of disassembly and re-assembly of the elements of the pump for cleaning without requiring tools of any kind. Cleaning is easily effected by flushing water over the parts.

The components of the pump of the invention may include elements of corrosion-resistant metal, but preferably each of the elements of the pump structure is formed entirely of suitable plastic composition. Illustrative examples of suitable synthetic resinous compositions are polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, polyester resins, epoxy resins, polycarbonate resins, and the like, and various copolymers or blends of polymers, e.g., styrene-acrylonitrile, which are commercially available and whose properties are well known to those skilled in the art as appropriate.

The pump of the invention may be formed as a package which includes a closure cap or it may be provided sep-' arably and be readily affixed in operable position on a conventional closure cap by merely providing an opening in the conventional cap suflicient to permit the passage of the narrow tube 18 and then securing the pump to the cap in an appropriate manner, i.e., merely connecting top piece 22a, which may be secured to piece 11, to cap 22 as shown in FIG. 2.

Although only specific embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A liquid pump adaptable for pumping liquid through the top of a container comprising a cylinder afiixed to the filler aperture at the top of the container and arranged to extend into the liquid to be dispensed, said cylinder having a closure near the bottom, said closure being provided with an opening to permit liquid to flow therein from the surrounding container; a disc valve positioned over and arranged to close said opening as fluid pressure from fluid contained in said cylinder moves said valve downward into contact with said closure thereby blocking said opening; means to restrict the upward move ment of said disc valve in said cylinder; a manually reciprocative dispending tube through which liquid is dispensed from the interior of said cylinder extending into said cylinder; a plunger afiixed to the lower end of said tube comprising a chamber into which liquid entering said cylinder through said disc valve passes through an opening in the bottom of said chamber and from which it is dispensed through said tube; a free-floating closure disc confined in said chamber to close the opening in the bottom of said chamber on the upstroke of said plunger; and means in said chamber to prevent said disc from blocking the passage into said tube as said plunger is depressed.

2. The pump of claim 1, comprising substantially a Wholly plastic construction.

3. The pump of claim 1, wherein said cylinder comprises an upper segment secured to the closure cap for said aperture and a lower segment secured in adjustable telescoping extensible relationship with said upper segment.

4. The pump of claim 3, wherein said upper and lower cylinder segments are provided with aligned openings and said segments are retained in operable relationship by a resilient plastic clip provided with pins which fit into said alignable openings in said segments.

5. The pump of claim 4, provided with a plurality of paired aligned openings, thereby providing an adjustable height for said cylinder.

6. The pump of claim 1, wherein said plunger is provided with a resilient C washer to substantially isolate the portion of said cylinder above said plunger from the portion of said cylinder below said plunger.

7. The pump of claim 1, wherein said plunger is provided with a vent passage to allow liquid not dispensed from said tube to exit from said plunger.

8. The pump of claim 1, wherein said tube has an upper portion contoured to permit it to be actuated by hand and arranged to have a high point which prevents retention in the tube of liquid tending to remain in said tube after the dispensing operation.

9. The pump of claim 1, wherein an element is provided extending into said cylinder to provide an upper limit for the stroke of said plunger.

10. The pump of claim 6, wherein the sole bearing surfaces for the moveable portion of said pump comprise the engagement of said dispensing tube with the aperture closure cap and the engagement of said C Washer with the inner wall of said cylinder.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 597,477 1/1898 Wine 103-'38 1,775,423 9/ 1930 Donovan et a] 222321 2,521,164 9/1950 Hayes 222-231 2,657,834 11/1953 Bacheller 222-321 2,704,620 3/1955 Perri et al 222321 3,187,960 5/ 1965 Gorman 222321 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner. HADD S. LANE, Examiner. 

1. A LIQUID PUMP ADJUSTABLE FOR PUMPING LIQUID THROUGH THE TOP OF A CONTAINER COMPRISING A CYLINDER AFFIXED TO THE FILLER APERTURE AT THE TOP OF THE CONTAINER AND ARRANGED TO EXTEND INTO THE LIQUID TO BE DISPENSED, SAID CYLINDER HAVING A CLOSURE NEAR THE BOTTOM, SAID CLOSURE BEING PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING TO PERMIT LIQUID TO FLOW THERIN FROM THE SURROUNDING CONTAINER; A DISC VALVE POSITIONED OVER AND ARRANGED TO CLOSE SAID OPENING AS FLUID PRESSURE FROM FLUID CONTAINED IN SAID CYLINDER MOVES SAID VALVE DOWNWARD INTO CONTACT WITH AID CLOSURE THEREBY BLOCKING SAID OPENING; MEANS TO RESTRICT THE UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID DISC VALVE IN SAID CYLINDER; A MANUALLY RECIPROCATIVE DISPENDING TUBE THROUGH WHICH LIQUID IS DIPENSED FROM THE INTERIOR OF SAID CYLINDER EXTENDING INTO SAID CYLINDER; A PLUNGER AFFIXED TO THE LOWER END OF SAID TUBE COMPRISING A CHAMBER INTO WHICH LIQUID ENTERING SAID CYLINDER THROUGH SAID DISC VALVE PASSES THROUGH AND OPENING IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID CHAMBER AND FROM WHICH IT IS DISPENSED THROUGH SAID TUBE; A FREE-FLOATING CLOSURE DISC CONFINED IN SAID CHAMBER TO CLOSE THE OPENING IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID CHAMBER ON THE UPSTROKE OF SAID PLUNGER; AND MEANS IN SAID CHAMBER TO PREVENT SAID DISC FROM BLOCKING THE PASSAGE INTO SAID TUBE AS SAID PLUNGER IS DEPRESSED. 